As the Episcopal Church begins its 79th General Convention on Thursday (July 5), it’s a good time to take note of the state of the erstwhile official faith of the American Colonies that became a stalwart of mainline Protestantism.

The Episcopal Church in South Carolina is preparing to reclaim control of more than two dozen properties worth an estimated $500 million after the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal brought by a breakaway group of conservative Anglican congregations.

As 3 billion people worldwide prepare to watch the royal wedding of Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle on Saturday (May 19), one faith group is especially keen to make the most of every pageantry-filled moment: Episcopalians.

The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled that South Carolina churches which broke off from the Episcopal Church are not entitled to keep church property formerly belonging to them when they were a part of the Episcopal denomination.

The firing of two senior Episcopal Church administrators for unspecified reasons after a four-month misconduct investigation has prompted warnings that the church’s “cover-up” could endanger future victims.